Glasgow, Scotland – The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is facing a deepening leadership crisis after the leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Anas Sarwar, publicly called for him to resign. The demand, delivered at a hastily arranged press conference in Glasgow on , comes amid growing turmoil within the Labour Party stemming from revelations surrounding the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the United States.
Sarwar, while acknowledging Starmer as a “decent man,” stated that the ongoing distractions emanating from Downing Street were jeopardizing Labour’s prospects in the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections scheduled for May. “The distraction needs to end, and the leadership in Downing Street has to change,” he declared, citing “too many mistakes” made by the current administration.
The call for Starmer’s resignation marks a significant escalation of internal pressure, particularly given Sarwar’s position as the leader of the Scottish Labour Party. The move is widely seen as a desperate attempt to salvage Labour’s electoral chances in Scotland, where recent opinion polls show the party trailing both the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Reform UK.
The crisis centres on the fallout from revelations contained within recently released files related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. These files reportedly detail alleged interactions between Lord Mandelson and Epstein, including claims that Mandelson may have passed sensitive government documents to Epstein even after his conviction for sex crimes. Mandelson resigned from his post as ambassador in the wake of the renewed scrutiny.
The situation has been further complicated by the resignations of two key Starmer advisors within the past 24 hours. Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s chief of staff, who was instrumental in Labour’s landslide victory in the July 2024 general election, stepped down, as did communications chief Tim Allan. These departures underscore the depth of the disquiet within Starmer’s inner circle.
Sarwar’s criticism extends beyond the Mandelson affair, suggesting a broader dissatisfaction with the direction of the Labour government. He emphasized the need for change, arguing that the current situation is hindering Labour’s ability to effectively challenge the SNP’s dominance in Scotland. “We cannot allow the failures at the heart of Downing Street to mean the failures continue here in Scotland,” he stated.
The Scottish Labour leader was also questioned about his own past association with Mandelson, having described him as “my old friend” in a social media post last April. Sarwar sought to distance himself from the former ambassador, stating that while he had met with Mandelson in his official capacity, he believed Mandelson should not have been appointed to the US ambassadorship and should no longer be a member of the Labour Party.
Despite the mounting pressure, a spokesperson for Starmer insisted that the Prime Minister retains the confidence of the party and will remain in office. “Keir Starmer is one of only four Labour leaders ever to have won a general election,” the spokesperson said. “He has a clear five-year mandate from the British people to deliver change, and that is what he will do.”
The Prime Minister addressed Labour MPs and peers on evening, reportedly telling them, “I have won every fight I’ve ever been in” and “I’m not prepared to walk away.”
Several prominent Labour figures, including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Housing Secretary Steve Reed, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Darren Jones, publicly voiced their support for Starmer following Sarwar’s announcement. Health Minister Wes Streeting, considered a potential future leader of the party, also backed Starmer, acknowledging the difficult week but arguing he should be given the opportunity to address the situation.
The unfolding crisis raises serious questions about the stability of the Labour government and its ability to deliver on its promises. The timing is particularly sensitive, with crucial elections looming in Scotland and the party grappling with the fallout from a damaging scandal. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Starmer can weather the storm and retain his position as Prime Minister.
The situation also highlights the delicate balance of power within the Labour Party, particularly between its leadership in Westminster and its representatives in Scotland. Sarwar’s bold move underscores the growing frustration among some within the party over the perceived failures of the central government and the potential damage to Labour’s electoral prospects.
